''f^-^'^:f. .^^ -*^,/^ W4 ^W^j ,^ ^:m. ^WV; u-->f^ ../ar;)4^ CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FROM THE ALUMNI FUNb THROUGH THE CORNELLIAN COUNCIL Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924008722005 SOMfe ACCOUNT An ILLUMiNATED MANUSCRIPT EXpCyt'ED FOR JEAN COMTE DE DUNOI& ^ [Circa 1450.] MiN. 17. SOME ACCOUNT OF AN ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT OF THE HOURS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. Executed for JEAN COMTE DE DUNOIS, iAbout A.D. 1450, and enriched 'ivith Seventy-mo 3\iiniatures. One Hundred Copes Privately Printed for ELLIS G? ELVEY, 29 NEW BOND STREET, LONDON, 1894. ^ OR^ BEAT^ MARI^ VIRGINIS SECUNDUM USUM ROMANUM. Manuscript of the Fifteenth Century, written on 2gi leaves of fine vellum. Rvery page is enriched with painted borders of delicate and beautiful design and marvellous variety, and it contains 72 Miniatures of the highest finish, including those in the Calendar. In a very fine red morocco binding of the 1 7/A century, tooled in compart- ments in the manner ascribed to Le Gascon. Measurement, 5^ x 3^ ins. Within the cover is the ancient Ex libris of Abbe Fauvel. THAT this beautiful volume was executed for Jean Comte de Dunois, the Bastard of Orleans, there can be no question. The portrait of the Patron occurs in two miniatures. In the first of these (No. 17) he is seen kneeling at a prie-dieu in the act of prayer to the Virgin and Child ; he wears his armour and a robe of blue covered with fleurs-de-lys with the "label," the heraldic designation of an eldest son, and the bar sinister of bastardy. His arms with the same devices are seen suspended over the arras and supported by an angel. In the second miniature, that representing the Resurrection (No. 19), the Patron is conspicuous amongst the saints ascending to heaven on the right hand of the throne ; he is being conducted by his patron saint, St. John the Evangelist, to the Regions of the Blest. The identity of St. John is indicated in the usual conventional manner by the poisoned chalice in his hand, and his presence in immediate support of the Patron proves that the latter's name was Jean. The arms with the "label" and the bar sinister occur throughout the volume in places far too numerous to mention, so that we have it conclu- sively demonstrated \haX the book was undoubtedly executed for a royal Hours ofjean "Dunois. bastard, an eldest son, named Jean ; and, further, from the fact of his always being represented in armour, he would probably be a distinguished soldier. The only personage of that period {circa 1450) corresponding to all these particulars was Jean Comte de Dunois, eldest son of Louis Due d'Orldans, the son of Charles V. of France, commonly called the Bastard of Orleans. This celebrated soldier, the companion in arms of the Maid of Orleans, achieved such victories over the English that he was nicknamed "le Fleau des Anglois," and was hailed as " le Camille des Frangois 1 le Restaurateur de la Monarchic ! le Conservateur de I'Estat !" In a Histoire de Charles VII., by Jean Chartier, Paris, 1661, folio, there is a large portrait of Dunois, and a full account of all his achievements is given. His arms are engraved under the portrait, and are the same as those found in this manuscript. They are described by Chartier as " d'azur a trois fleurs-de-lys d'or, au lambel d'argent de trois pieces, & k vne cottice aussi d'argent en barre, autrement perie en bande." Although the manuscript is on the whole for the use of Rome, there are certain adaptations for the use of Paris, as in the Calendar, Litany, and Matins, where alternative Lessons according to Paris use are given. MINIATURES. MiN. I MiN. 2 MiN. 3 Mm. 4 MiN, s MiN. 6- MiN. 7 MiN. 8 January. The patron seated at table with four servants in attendance. The arras powdered with fleurs-de-lys. February. A farmer and his men with a blazing fire in a snowy scene. March. Pruning and setting the vine stocks. April. A gallant and three ladies gathering wild flowers. May. A hawking party. A gentleman and two ladies on horseback. June. Peasants hay-harvesting. July. The grain harvest. August. The threshing-floor. amti !r yi- LWV .1<*Ut»? ^/^^ i-iK'l*- vvv / ' c »$' 6' rttittttC^Ji MiN. 19. Hours of yean "Dunois. September. The winepress. October. Tilling and seed-casting. November. Peasants gathering acorns for the swine. December. Hunting the wild boar. St. John in Patmos. St. Luke in his Scriptorium, with books around. St. Matthew writing his gospel. St. Mark writing at his desk in a Gothic room. The Virgin and Child, before whom kneels the patron of the book, Jean Count Dunois, wearing a blue surcoat powdered with fleurs-de-lys over a suit of armour. His scutcheon is supported against the arras by an angel. The Virgin giving suck to the Holy Child. Dies Domini. In the margin stands St. John the Evangelist, com- mending the patron of the book to the estate of the blessed who are seen ascending into heaven. This would indicate that the patron's name was John. The Annunciation, with six scenes from the life of the Virgin intro- duced in little circular miniatures in the border. There is also a little scene of a king delivering a lamb to a monk, which pro- bably has reference to the dedication of the patron of the book. The Meeting of St. Mary and St. Elizabeth. An angel bearing a casket follows the Virgin. The Nativity. In the upper border is a choir of angels.* In the lower border are seen the shepherds in the field. MiN. 9 MiN. 10 MlN. II MiN. 12 MiN. 13 MiN. 14 MiN. 15 Mm. 16 MiN. 17 MiN. 18 MiN. 19 MiN. 20 MiN. 21 MiN. 22 The Announcement to the Shepherds. MiN. 23 Hours of Jean 'Dunois. MiN. 24 xhe Adoration of the Magi. MiN. 2S The Presentation of Christ in the Temple. MiN. 26 The Flight into Egypt. In the margin is represented the massacre of the Innocents. MiN. 27 Tlie Coronation of the Virgin by the Heavenly Father, attended by a company of saints and martyrs. MiN. 28 The Betrayal of Christ. A wonder of minute figure painting. In the margins, Christ led to judgment and the Garden of Gethsemane. MiN. 29 Christ before the fudgment-seat, Pilate washing his hands. MiN. 30 Christ bound to a pillar and scourged. Mm. 31 The Via Dolorosa. A wonderful piece of grouping. MIN. 32 jy^g Exaltation of the Cross. MiN. 33 ■j'j^g Crucifixion. Christ pierced with the spear. St. John and the holy women at the foot of the Cross. MiN. 34 The Taking down from the Cross. A very fine composition. Mm. 3s The Entombment. A scene within a Campo Santo. Mm. 36 The Mass of St. Gregory. A most unusual treatment of the subject in two compartments. Mm. 37 David in Prayer. The heavenly Father appears in the clouds with choir of angels. On the further side of a river David in his shepherd's estate. MiN. 38 Pride, seated on a lion. Envy, seated on a wolf. A marvel of miniature painting. Mm. 39 Idleness asleep on an ass, crossing a bridge. Inscribed beneath "Peresse." Another man is peering through an embrasure of MiN. 39. Hours of Jean "Dunois. the bridge. Stretching out beyond is a charming landscape exhibiting a view of a river, with a bridge and island in middle distance, a wonder of minute miniature painting. On comparing this exquisite work with the famous picture, " La Vierge au Donateur," by John Van Eyck, in the Salon Carri of the Louvre, it will be seen that the landscape is undoubtedly copied from it down to the minutest detail. This miniature is certainly the crown of the whole book. Anger, A man seated on a leopard stabs himself with a poignard. A very beautiful background. Gluttony. A man richly clad seated on a wolf. He holds in one hand the sword of rapine, in the other a drinking cup. He is followed by a servant bearing wine vessels. Luxury. A lady gorgeously apparelled seated on a goat; in her right hand are two darts, in her left a mirror. In tiny compartments at the back are seen David and Bathsheba. Avarice. A man seated on a big ape, a treasure chest open in his lap. Scales and a heap of money on a table beside him. The Invention of the Cross by St. Helena, and the offerings of kings on an altar, on which is exposed the Cross richly jewelled. The Day of Pentecost. The Burial of the Dead and the Ascent to Heaven of the Spirit of a fust Man at the Last Day. The Administration of the Last Sacraments, and the Office for the Dead. Two exquisite paintings. St. Peter enthroned as Pope. A priest holds an open book to him, from which he reads. On each side of him sits a Cardinal. St. Paul standing in a Landscape with an open book. A beautiful little castle forms the background. MiN. 40 MiN. 41 MiN. 42 MiN. 43 MiN. 44 MiN. 45 MiN. 46 MiN. 47 MiN. 48 MiN. 49 I Hours of Jean Dunois. MiN. so MiN. SI MiN. $2 MiN. S3 MiN. S4 MiN. 55 MiN. $(s MiN. 57 MiN. s8 MiN. 59 MiN. 6o MiN. 6i MlN. 62 MiN. 63 MiN. 64 MiN. 6s St. Andrew. St. James. St. John standing in a Scriptorium, with books around. He holds in his hand the poisoned chalice. The Unbelief of St. Thomas. St. Anthony. With his staff cross he represses the fire which blazes at his feet, and with the sign of the cross repels the devil who approaches. St. Christopher. A lovely little picture. St. Leonard. With wonderfully painted figures of prisoners in chains, and others behind prison bars. St. Martin dividing his Cloak with the Beggar. St. Nicholas and the three Children in the Pickle-tub. St. Eustace. A forest scene, with dogs, stag, and huntsmen. The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence. A beautiful composition of seven figures in a landscape. St. George slaying the Dragon. On the upper margin is depicted the princess kneeling in a landscape, with a castle in the background. St. Bernard writing at a desk, regardless of the devil who tries to interrupt him. St. Julian and his Mother Ferrying a Passenger. An exquisite little picture in the background. St. Mary Magdalene enveloped to the feet in her golden tresses, borne in the air by Angels. St. Catherine seated beneath a rich canopy. The emblems of her martyrdom around her. '■'l if? 1 "'•<^ Hours of "Jean 'Dunois. 7 St. Margaret seated on tJte Dragon. St. Genevieve walking in a wood. An angel defends her from a devil who attacks her with a pair of bellows. The Martyrdom of St. Appollonia. St. Elizabeth. St. Mary of Egypt endued with a mantle by St. Zosimus in the Desert. St. Francis receiving the Stigmata. Kneeling in a beautifully painted landscape. St. Barbara standing beneath a golden arch, holding in one liand a palm branch, in the other the tower. Independently of the paintings which give this book so high an artistic value, the caligraphy, illuminated letters, and flower painting of the borders are of a character altogether exceptional, and it may safely be averred that this volume presents to a lover of mediaeval art an opportunity of securing an example of the very best type, such as has not been seen for sale for many decades, and may never occur again. MiN. 66 MiN. 67 MiN. 68 MiN. 69 MiN. 70 MiN. 71 MiK. 72 ND3363.D9T" ''"'""""' ""^'^ Sofne account of an illuminated manuscrip 3 1924 008 722 005 ,w*v' '%'' i^^- Ni- '-f^&